the horses; with these, he drove as steadily as Pekin had any right to expect. The emperor returned after the briefest of circuits; he descended in great pomp from his throne, with the severest resolution never to remount it. A public thanksgiving was ordered for his majesty's happy escape from the disease of broken neck, and the stage-coach was dedicated thenceforward as a votive offering to the god Fo Fo, whom the learned more accurately called Fi Fi. THE LORDLING PEASANT. PART FIRST. 1. The baron sat on his castle wall, And beheld both dale and down; 2. The warders blew their sounding horns, Their colours shone afar. 3. The baron he sighed as he looked above, Although the rich manors that stretched so far, 4. Up then arose his ancient nurse That had borne him on her knee And why dost thou sigh, thou noble youth, At a sight so fair to see?' 5. Oh! then, upspake that noble baron, And heavily spake he, 'But I've never a true and faithful wife To share it all with me. 6. And if I should marry a courtly dame She'd love my castle and love my lands, 7. Oh! then upspake that ancient nurse— 'Now take advice of me : If you I'd have a true wife, then go and find A maiden of low degree. 8. 'And be thou disguised in plain attire, And like a peasant rove, But let her not know thy high degree: So shalt thou prove her love.' 9. Then called the baron his young foot-page, Full loudly called he : The bonnie foot-page full swiftly ran, And knelt him on his knee. 10. 'Bring a peasant's coat, my young foot-page, With hose and shoon also, And artfully disguise my face That no one may me know. Let no one hear from thee; But keep my secret faithfully, And thou shalt have gold and fee.' 12. The sunbeams gilt the distant hills, 13. The early pilgrim blithe he hailed, 14. The new-waked birds their matins sung While through full many a lonely path The baron took his way. 15. And blithe and merrily did he wend, And blithe and merrily hied Until he came to a rural cot, Where a maiden fair did bide. * 16. Though lowly and unknown to fame, 17. Sweet was the melody of her voice So sweet that woodwelest on the spray 18. But, more than all, her youthful heart 19. The maiden stood at her cottage gate, And she saw the blithesome stranger youth 20. And lo! with many a fond excuse 21. And soon her sighs and blushes told She did the youth approve; For where's the maid that can resist The vows of faithful love? Supremely, surpassing all others. + Thrushes. + Retired. § Stored. 22. 'Lo! I've a cottage, and I've a cow, And I've a field of ripening corn; 23. The listening damsel heard his vows, 24. And oft her mother heard the tale, Nor did the dame repine : 'And if thou canst keep her, stranger youth, The damsel shall be thine.' 25. 'Ah! then, farewell, my charming fair!' The seeming peasant cries, 'For I must wend for many a mile Ere I can take a bride.' 26. 'Oh! say not so, thou stranger youth; Oh! say not so, I pray! For if thou dost go, oh! I shall rue 27. 'Yes, I must go, thou charming maid, I can no longer stay; Though ever until I here return Must I moan the livelong day. |